As part of sustained efforts to rid Kogi State of all forms of crime and criminality, on Sunday, operatives of the Kogi State Police Command attached to Okene Division intercepted a Nissan vehicle (Ash colour) with registration number LGT 893 AA, Plateau, heading towards the Auchi axis with five passengers.
The operatives intercepted the suspects while on routine stop-and-search duty.
According to the Kogi State Command spokesperson, SP William Aya, during the search, all passengers were asked to alight from the vehicle. However, one of the passengers took to his heels and was given a hot chase but unfortunately escaped through a nearby thick forest.
“One SMG Rifle with breach number 5197, one magazine, 28 live ammunition of 5.6mm, one live G3 ammunition, one black T-shirt, 3 phone chargers, one Oraimo power bank, charms, and one pair of sandals were recovered after a search of the fleeing suspect’s bag.
“Efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect,” Aya said.
In another development, on Saturday, operatives attached to Anyigba Division arrested two suspects, Umaru Jibril and Lukman Umaru for being in possession of a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
Aya said the suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation.
“Furthermore, on Monday, 23rd June 2025, the operatives attached to Obajana Division, while on a confidence building patrol along Obajana–Oshokoshoko road, foiled an attempted abduction of passengers who were attacked by armed hoodlums.
“The hoodlums had ambushed one J5 vehicle with registration number LSD 572 XJ driven by Suleiman Sani with his motor boy, en route from Zaria to Ekiti, one Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KPA 93 LG, driven by Adeleke Ifelaja, traveling from Abuja to Lagos with ten (10) passengers, one Toyota Hiace bus with registration number GWA 663 XD, driven by Dare Oloyede, also traveling from Abuja to Lagos with thirteen (13) passengers
“The patrol team responded promptly to the sporadic gunfire heard in the area and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. Upon sighting the police, the hoodlums opened fire but were repelled, which forced them to abandon their victims and fled.”
SP Aya confirmed that all the passengers were successfully rescued. Unfortunately, six victims sustained injuries, and one died while receiving treatment.
